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William Pirrie Sinclair

1837 – 1900

British politician

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About William Pirrie Sinclair

Lived 1837 – 1900 (aged 62–63). William Pirrie Sinclair was a British politician.

William Pirrie Sinclair (1837 – 1 November 1900) was a politician in the United Kingdom who was twice elected to the House of Commons for the Liberal Party.

Born in Belfast in 1837, son of Presbyterians John Sinclair and Eliza (née Pirrie) of Conlig near Bangor, County Down, he was educated at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution, Queen's College Belfast and Heidelberg University, Baden. He became a successful businessman in Liverpool, and was a Presbyterian Church elder.

He was asked in 1885 to stand in a by-election by the County Antrim Central Tenant Right Association, at a meeting in Liberal Party headquarters in Belfast. He declared his support for the extension of purchase provisions of the 1881 Land Act, and his opposition to Gladstone's Coercion Acts. He held the seat only until Parliament was dissolved later that year for the 1885 general election, when the two-seat Antrim constituency was divided into four single-member divisions. Sinclair stood in North Antrim, where in a three-way contest he was defeated by the Conservative Edward MacNaghten. in Scotland, with a majority of only 19 votes (0.4% of the total) over the Liberal Party candidate. He lost the seat to the Liberals at the 1892 general election, and did not stand for Parliament again.

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Important facts

Born
1837
Birth century
Occupation
Education
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
Positions held
Member of the 24th Parliament of the United Kingdom, Member of the 22nd Parliament of the United Kingdom
Also known as
William Sinclair

People in William Pirrie Sinclair's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped William Pirrie Sinclair's

Frequently asked questions

Who was William Pirrie Sinclair?

British politician

When was William Pirrie Sinclair born?

William Pirrie Sinclair was born in 1837.

When did William Pirrie Sinclair die?

William Pirrie Sinclair died on 1 November 1900.

What was William Pirrie Sinclair's occupation?

William Pirrie Sinclair was a politician.

What nationality was William Pirrie Sinclair?

William Pirrie Sinclair was British.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: William Pirrie Sinclair

· Wikidata: Q8016926

· DBpedia: William Pirrie Sinclair

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). William Pirrie Sinclair. https://biography.guide/william-pirrie-sinclair/

MLA: "William Pirrie Sinclair." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/william-pirrie-sinclair/.

Chicago: "William Pirrie Sinclair." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/william-pirrie-sinclair/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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